1. The point is many of us including myself, would not know the so call market price of the item or history of the item.

Like the G & G example, some items are not as expensive as the sellers make it.
Prada ties are different from Prada ties using Holland and whatsisname prints. But the other interested buyers would not know.

If I see a Lobb St Crepin red museum croc number selling at 1.775 grand, whether I would buy it depends on whether I can afford 1.775 grand.
But personally, even if I can afford 1.775 grand, I would not pay it, if I know the seller is flipping it after gettting it from ebay for 500.
And no, I am not against capitalism.

2. I agree with PMing the seller. But I would not bargain/have heated negotiations with him if he says no.
After all as a seller, he can sell it for whatever price he wants. Like you say, I will just walk away.
But I would still like to know some history of the item.
Like dude, you bought the Vash from davesmith for 300 and now want to sell it for 600 because it can't fit?

This does not really make sense to me - I wouldnt get too much into it, because its never going to happen, but if you want to know market value - its what supply and demand dictate. Its what someone is willing to pay for it. JL Chapels may have just sold on eBay for $300 - but in a size 12. Ive been looking for a pair in a 9.5 forever - if someone listed it for $600, Id probably take it. Why? Its double the "market value" (assuming there are no other completed listings), but my demand necessitates that amount.

I think the lack of activity on B&S has less to do with the new format and a lot more to do with the fact that 1) people are asking higher prices on SF B&S and 2) that most retailers for the last year have cut back on inventory so that there is far less to close out or liquidate. I deal with manufacturers around the world in categories ranging from fashion to home decor to publishing. They tell me that all retailers have cut inventory and all manufacturers have cut production. The reality is that there just aren't as many things available at close-out prices. This isn't 2009.

while i'm not saying what i just quoted is wrong, it makes perfect sense, however, the difference for me, is between this month and last month not a few years back. the new B&S has f***ked me (and many others over. period.

edit: That being said, i just hope everyone hasn't left by the time changes are brought in to make it like it was. i have hope that it will somewhat revert back to the old days

I think the lack of activity on B&S has less to do with the new format and a lot more to do with the fact that 1) people are asking higher prices on SF B&S and 2) that most retailers for the last year have cut back on inventory so that there is far less to close out or liquidate. I deal with manufacturers around the world in categories ranging from fashion to home decor to publishing. They tell me that all retailers have cut inventory and all manufacturers have cut production. The reality is that there just aren't as many things available at close-out prices. This isn't 2009.

While the closeout price thing is absolutely true, I completely disagree that its the reason why B&S has no activity. There were many brisk sales taking place the day before our Rapture - and sellers are still finding many, many good deals.

I would appreciate it if it was possible to list more than one item of the same category in one listing. For example, I have thirty high end ties from the same brand that I would be happy to sell for the same price. In the past, a buyer could look at one listing and quickly shoot me a PM asking for "ties 5,7, 9 and 12" or "would you accept $xxx for ties 5, 7, 9 & 12." Now, even if the buyer can see in one listing that I have another 29 ties for sale, what are the odds that he will look at all the other listings to make a multi-item purchase?

THIS is another major downfall here, who is going to have the patience to hunt down their favorite seller and suffer through the lag to compose a list and then shoot an offer. GREAT COMMENT

While the closeout price thing is absolutely true, I completely disagree that its the reason why B&S has no activity. There were many brisk sales taking place the day before our Rapture - and sellers are still finding many, many good deals.

I don't think anyone can identify one singular cause for the flaccid nature of the new B&S, but here are several:

1. Even if the new system was perfect, there would still be growing pains and learning curves. Add the well covered difficulties and major changes and its easy to see why things aren't fully operational.
2. The new B&S is open to a new type of seller, which has change the dynamic of the board. It will take time to naturally discourage overpriced/undesirable items - and in the mean time these items are more visible than before.
3. There are easily accessible existing alternatives (AAAC, eBay, & the old B&S is still in the process of being phased out.)
4. It is summer time. This is a slow sales time for all sales, period. I'm not sure deals don't exist, but people are busy with life outside of the internet and retailers are slow.
5. Negative sentiment about the new B&S has pushed away traffic. People are frustrated or simply "waiting out" possible fixes (or have conspiracy theories about price fixing? WTF?)

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpooPoker

Ive been looking for a pair in a 9.5 forever - if someone listed it for $600, Id probably take it.

This does not really make sense to me - I wouldnt get too much into it, because its never going to happen, but if you want to know market value - its what supply and demand dictate. Its what someone is willing to pay for it. JL Chapels may have just sold on eBay for $300 - but in a size 12. Ive been looking for a pair in a 9.5 forever - if someone listed it for $600, Id probably take it. Why? Its double the "market value" (assuming there are no other completed listings), but my demand necessitates that amount.

tl,dr - ebay completed listings if you are not sure and done.

Nope I am not talking about paying more for an item because you want to.

I am talking about the lack of information to distinguish from shill (I am selling a pair of GG shoes! Er, actually this is a pair of Paul XXX shoes which looks like GG shoes and at that time, GG used the Paul XXX factory to do their shoes. So it could be a GG shoes but I am still saying its GG shoes nonetheless!). I am talking about information I would like to know (like flipping shoes got on Yoox).

I don't think anyone can identify one singular cause for the flaccid nature of the new B&S, but here are several:

1. Even if the new system was perfect, there would still be growing pains and learning curves. Add the well covered difficulties and major changes and its easy to see why things aren't fully operational.

OK, maybe...

2. The new B&S is open to a new type of seller, which has change the dynamic of the board. It will take time to naturally discourage overpriced/undesirable items - and in the mean time these items are more visible than before.

Don't understand that, what is gained by pushing away old and famous sellers with excellent reputations??

3. There are easily accessible existing alternatives (AAAC, eBay, & the old B&S is still in the process of being phased out.)

Hmm... AAAC is as active as the new B&S, eBay has fees and its very easy to get screwed, the option to make a new thread in the old B&S doesn't exist...

4. It is summer time. This is a slow sales time for all sales, period. I'm not sure deals don't exist, but people are busy with life outside of the internet and retailers are slow.

It was also summer 2 weeks ago when my selling was rolling

5. Negative sentiment about the new B&S has pushed away traffic. People are frustrated or simply "waiting out" possible fixes (or have conspiracy theories about price fixing? WTF?)

Everyone is writing their own experiences not just saying "oh ok everyone hates it so i'll kill it with fire..."

I apologize in advance if i came across as an asshole. I really want the new system to work and make SF more popular than ever.

Good to hear. But, my point is that the amount of available closeouts is not anywhere near 2009 levels. Any retailer or manufacturer will verify that.

I used to sell 20+(-$10) items, buy a half dozen items, and have a trade or two every week. None since the system changed.

I do think the mods/owners/huddler deserve some money. The old system did bring in a lot of new members and ad revenue. I guess not enough to justify keeping the old system.
Most B&S sellers were not making serious $, many including myself were taking a net loss from the B&S. It is hard to charge people who were just doing it for some fun.

We had good reasons to change B&S, but apparently, we also broke some key features. I've enlisted Spoo and am also talking with other long time, hgih volume sellers to fix the system, so that we have a market driven, easy to use (for both newcomera and oldtimers) and easily moderated system, but with the freewheelinjg, fun, spirit of the old system.

We had good reasons to change B&S, but apparently, we also broke some key features. I've enlisted Spoo and am also talking with other long time, hgih volume sellers to fix the system, so that we have a market driven, easy to use (for both newcomera and oldtimers) and easily moderated system, but with the freewheelinjg, fun, spirit of the old system.